Imperialism
What is imperialism?
Imperialism is the domination by one country of the political, economic, or cultural life of another country or religion.

What were the causes for imperialism?
One cause is economic interests. After the Industrial Revolution their was a want and need to expand overseas. Expanding over seas would enable manufacturers to access more goods and more people to purchase goods from them. Expanding would also enable people to move into new colonies, which was important because Europe's population was growing quickly.

Another cause was political and military motives. They took over harbors and islands in order to transport coal and other supplies around the world. They also wanted Nationalism. They felt by creating new colonies they were creating national security, and that it gave them the power to influence other nations.

Humanitarian and religious goals were another motive for imperialism. They felt as though they had to help the less fortinate over seas. Religious leaders took their faith to these other countries to spread the words of the lord. Doctors and colonial officals also traveled across seas to "help". They took medicine overseas, they also took their laws to

The Europeans also believed they were a superior race. They felt that life was about natural selection (survival of the fittest). Since they saw themselves this way they felt by changing other cultures it was natures way of improving homosapiens. Many of these overseas socities were robbed of their culture.

Imperialism through European eyes.
Humanitarians and religious missionaries felt they were helping other countries by spreading their religious beliefs. They also took medicine over to these countries. They also thought they were helping by taking their laws over there.


How Europeans forced their rule over other nations
The Europeans easily forced their rule over other nations. But how did they do this? Europeans had a strong military force and influence over these other countries. Fear was one way they accomplished taking over these countries, but when fear failed, they used force. More advanced weapon technology and more organized armies made Europe a deadly threat to anyone who got in their way. They were also doing well economically. In Africa the slave trade took a tole on their power, so they were a weak nation. By using these advantages it made it fairly easy for Europe to take over the other nations with easy.

Consequences of imperialism

The slave trade was one of the negative effect that occured in Africa. Also many of the culures, languages, and beliefs of these foreign countries were domalished. Also a large amount of unsoiled land was destroyed when Europeans built factories. Civil wars broke out and some even continue today. Even though there were these negative outcomes, their were some positives. Nations become more structured. There was more economic stability.



external image africa.jpg

Citations:

information: Prentice Hall World History The Modern Era book
picture:
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